A husband trying to be freed from his wife's mother

Q: During a dispute between my wife and me, her sister attacked me, hitting me and injuring my head. When I wanted to take my wife and leave, her mother followed me and said, "You cannot leave without divorcing her." I replied, "If you want her to be divorced, I authorize her father to grant her divorce in the same way I can do." She regarded my statement as a divorce, but I intended to free myself from her until some people would come and settle the dispute. Is what I said regarded as a divorce?

A: If the reality is as you mentioned that you did not intend to divorce her by saying, "If you want her to be divorced, I authorize her father to grant her divorce in the same way I can do," but you intended to free yourself from your wife's mother and sister until some people would come to end the dispute, your statement will not be regarded as a divorce. It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what they have intended." (Part No. 20; Page No. 73) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.